Big gainer, says Sir Albert, is the Tory heartland of leafy Sutton Coldfield. The Royal Borough's Four Oaks ward is #75,000 better off, New Hall has had a #64,0000 boost and Vesey has had its coffers swelled by #52,000.

Extra cash has also gone into Har-borne which has #12,781 more. "We object to this," Coun Bore said. "We think it is very wrong and we think the Government should step in and investigate the misuse of this money."

Labour will be pressing its case on Friday by insisting that a scrutiny team should challenge the distribution of the money.

The city's controlling Tory - Lib Dem coalition argues there are pockets of deprivation even in areas like Sutton Coldfield and Harborne.